Wisconsin governor deploys National Guard to help at polls

Lt. Col. Paul Felician, the commander of the Wisconsin National Guard’s CERFP ? or Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear Enhanced Response Force Package ? speaks March 12 to troops mobilizing for state active duty in response to the Wisconsin Department of Health Service’s request for assistance. The troops will be transporting 37 Wisconsin citizens who were aboard a cruise ship with confirmed cases of COVID-19 to their homes for self-quarantine once they arrive in Wisconsin. Wisconsin National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Alex Baum

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin’s governor is deploying the National Guard to help staff polling sites for the state’s presidential primary.

Election clerks say poll workers are quitting in droves in fear of contracting the coronavirus during Tuesday’s election. More than 100 municipalities have reported they lack enough people to staff even one polling site. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers told a federal judge in a filing Wednesday that he’ll use Wisconsin Army National Guard members as poll workers. Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders issued a statement saying the state should postpone the election. The Democratic National Committee is among groups seeking to have it postponed.

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